2006-01-14 04:00:00 PDT Washington -- Rep. John Shadegg of Arizona made a late entry into the race for House Republican leader Friday, suggesting that his two rivals did not represent a "clean break from the scandals of the recent past."

Shadegg joined Reps. John Boehner of Ohio, chairman of the Education and Workforce Committee, and Roy Blunt of Missouri, the acting majority leader, in the race to assume the post vacated by Rep. Tom DeLay of Texas.

"Members of our Republican conference disagree about policy and tactics, but we stand together in our respect for this institution, our hatred of corruption and our support for the basic principles of our party," Shadegg said in a letter to fellow Republicans.

He starts out far behind his rivals in rounding up firm commitments for an election among House Republicans now set for Feb. 2, but he holds the potential to shake up the base of support for both men and deny either a decisive first-ballot majority.

Boehner, who trails Blunt in the number of representatives who have publicly pledged their support, could benefit from another candidacy if it sparks defections from Blunt's camp, so he welcomed Shadegg's entry.

"His entry into the majority leader race is further proof that the conference isn't happy with the status quo," Boehner said in a statement.

Aides to Blunt said he and Shadegg had a good relationship from working together in the leadership, where Shadegg held the position of policy chairman. But they said Blunt did not expect to lose any of his more than 100 committed supporters as the result of Shadegg's announcement. A total of 116 votes is needed to win.

Shadegg, who was first elected in the 1994 elections that swept Republicans into control of the House, will try to draw on his base of support among fellow fiscal conservatives. He quickly won the endorsement of the Club for Growth, an advocacy group that works to lower federal spending.

Shadegg will also try to position himself as the more fresh-faced alternative to Boehner and Blunt. Both have come under scrutiny for having extensive ties to lobbyists similar to those of DeLay, who was the architect of the Republican push to foster party links to lobbyists and was a close ally of the lobbyist Jack Abramoff, who recently pleaded guilty to federal corruption charges.

On Friday, the watchdog group Public Citizen issued a report detailing Blunt's fundraising ties to lobbyists, his subsidized travel aboard corporate aircraft and the move of former aides from his office to the employ of major contributors.

"Electing Rep. Blunt means choosing more of the same corruption plaguing the system now," said Joan Claybrook, the president of Public Citizen.

Blunt's office shrugged off the accusation as partisan.

"Joan Claybrook, former Carter administration official, vocal supporter and financial contributor to John Kerry's presidential campaign, will have zero impact on who House Republicans choose to be their leader," said Jessica Boulanger, a spokeswoman for Blunt.

Blunt continued to gain support as seven Texas Republicans lined up behind him after a conference call with the leadership contenders arranged by Rep. Joe Barton, the Texan who is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Barton backed Blunt along with six others who had not previously made known their preference.

In a rebuke aimed at Blunt, Shadegg said he would give up his leadership post, the fifth-ranking party slot, to seek the higher position.

Under the current plan, Blunt, who is the elected party whip, would retain that job should he lose the majority leader's race. Many House Republicans say that they consider that unacceptable and that the party should also elect a new whip and potentially review all the leadership slots.

With relationships with lobbyists and the call for an overhaul in lobbying rules dominating the public campaigning for the party contest, Shadegg endorsed changes limiting the ability of lawmakers to insert pet projects in spending bills. He also renewed his push to deny congressional pensions to lawmakers convicted of taking bribes.

Both Boehner and Blunt have proposed their own changes in lobbying rules.